Things to know before the Belgian Grand Prix
After the summer shutdown, Formula One action resumes with the Belgian GP, round 13 of the 2018 Championship to kick off the second half of the season.
1. Today’s race will be the 63rd Formula One Belgian Grand Prix. The venue was part of the first F1 calendar in 1950 and it has been absent only six times since.
2. The lap record is 1:46.577, set by Sebastian Vettel in the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix.
3. Of the 62 races held in Belgium, Spa played host to 50 Belgium Grand Prix. The other two venues were Zolder and Nivelles.
4. Of the current F1 drivers, Kimi Räikkönen has claimed the most victories at Spa. The Finn won four times – in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009. With his three wins, Lewis Hamilton can match the Finn’s record if he wins today.
5. Ferrari is the most successful constructor in the history of the Belgian Grand Prix. The Italians have won 16 times so far. Next on the list is McLaren with 14 triumphs.
6. Other than the routine maintenance, no changes of significance have been made since last year. It is interesting as most of the tracks have gone through at least minor alterations so far this year.
7. There will be two DRS zones at the Spa-Franchorchamps track this year. The first one is after the fourth corner, with the activation point 210m after Raidillon and the detection point 210m before turn 2. The second zone has its detection point 160m before Turn 18 and its activation point 30m after Turn 19
8. The emblematic Spa race track is confined by three towns: Spa-Franchorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot.
9. The track is a high-speed feast with cars spending approximately 70 per cent of the lap at full throttle.
10. The elevation change in the famous Eau Rouge – Raidillon corner combination is 22m.
